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MUSI2026 Fundamentals of Music Composition
Course Type: disciplinary elective for music majors/minors, free elective for others
Prerequisite: MUSI1023, or instructor’s consent.
For exchange students: equivalent to MUSI1023 at the home institution required.
Instructor: Dr. Daniel LO
Semester: First Semester 2026/27
Time: 12:00pm – 1:50pm, Tuesday
Venue: CPD-LG1.22 Rehearsal Room
This course offers a comprehensive exploration of music composition, blending theoretical and practical elements. Through a dynamic mix of lectures, seminars, and one-on-one supervision, students will delve into the foundations of music composition, expanding their understanding of styles, structures, notation, and score presentation.The emphasis of this course lies in the practical application of these concepts, as students will engage in both the composition and analysis of musical repertoire. This dual approach ensures that students not only acquire the necessary knowledge but also develop the ability to apply it creatively and critically. By the end of the course, students will possess a well-rounded understanding of the compositional process, equipping them with the skills to compose, analyze, and engage with diverse musical genres and styles.
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Course Learning Outcomes
Assessment Methods
Topics
Text & Resource Materials
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
  • identify the key technical aspects of music composition;
  • demonstrate an appreciation of the aesthetic diversity of different compositional approaches;
  • employ critical judgement on the effectiveness of compositional techniques in context;
  • create original compositions of instrumental music with competent notation and effective instructions for performers.
Composition 1: 40% (Score: 30%; Written Note:10%)
Composition 2: 50% (Score: 40%; Written Note:10%)
Attendance and Participation (Lectures and Tutorials) : 10%
  • Musical Time and Forms
  • Open Structures and Indeterminacy
  • Pitch Organization
  • Phrase Structures
  • Composing for Western instruments
  • Modern Music and After / Paul Griffiths
  • George Crumb & the Alchemy of Sound: Essays on His Music / edited by Steven Bruns & Ofer Ben-Amots; Michael D. Grace, general editor
  • The Technique of My Musical Language / by Olivier Messiaen ; Translated by John Satterfield
  • The Music of Tōru Takemitsu / Peter Bur
  • Confronting Silence: Selected Writings / Toru Takemitsu ; translated and edited by Yoshiko Kakudo and Glenn Glasow ; with a foreword by Seiji Ozawa